Improved apparatus for separating and concentrating ores



A. HUNTER. Apparatus for Separating and Concentrating Ores.

- Patented May 23, 1865.

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Nurnn STATES PATENT much,

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND CONCENTRATING 0RES.,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,528, dated May 23, 1865.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, ANDREW HUNTER, of the county of Solano, State of California, have invented a new and useful machine for separating and concentrating sulphurets from ores, sand, and tailings, whether of gold, silver, or other metals, and for saving amalgam; and I do hereby declare that the followi ng is a full and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reterence'marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine; Figs. 2 and 3 are the front and rear ends. Fig. 4 is a plan. Fig. 5 is a vertical section from front to rear.

A A is a stout frame-work of wood, properly braced.

BB are troughs,with metallic bottoms,coated' with amalgam. These bottoms have a downward inclination from rear to front about one third their length, as shown by line a b, Fig. 5. From b to 0 they are level, or nearly so, and from c to d, or its discharge in front, it again inclines downward.

I) D are hangers, (adjustable to any required length,) by which the troughs B B are suspended from frame-work A. v

E E are small troughs or hoppers, with holes in the bottom,) to receive the pulp and distribute it equally across the bottoms of the troughs B B.'

GGare smaller troughs, supplied with water from stop-cock H, which drips slowly through small holes onto the bottoms of troughs B B.

K is a shaft, provided with cranks or eccentries, revolved by any known means, giving a slight and quick oscillation or vibratory motion to troughs B B.

S S are springs or other contrivance, for the purpose of producing aconcussion in consequence of troughs B B striking against the 8211116.

I is a connecting or driving rod, adjustable to any desired length by means of screw-nuts N N I R R are receivers.

Operation: The machine being set in motion, the pulp or tailings are run intothe troughsE E, and are distributed through the holes in same upon the bottom of troughs B B, the

- bottoms of the troughs B B retaining all or nearly all of the amalgam, so that the loss of sulphurets or metal passing into receiver R is almost nominal, as they consist of such fine particles as to be scarcely separable by the most careful panning.

The motion of this machine is so nearly the same as that of a grain-separator formerly patented by me that I make no claim for the same in this application.

Having thus described my machine and its operation, what I claim as my invention, and

for which I desire Letters Patent to issue, is

1. The formation ofthe troughs B B with metallic bottoms alternately inclining and level, as shown by line a b 0 d, .substantially as described, and for the uses and purposes as set forth.

2. The combination of these troughs with the troughs E E G G, stop-cock H, hangers D D, springs S S, ortheir equivalent, and adjustable connecting-rods I, giving an oscillatory or vi bratory motion, all substantially as described, and for the uses and purposes as hereinbefore set forth.

ANDREW HUNTER.

Witnesses CHAS. R. BOND, J. W. WICKENZIE. 

